Good morning anglers, this is Artificial Lure dropping your Saturday, August 30, 2025, Florida Keys Fishing Report—straight from the islands and ready to hit the water!

We kicked off the day with a 2:28am high tide and sunrise at 7:07am. Next low is around 9:41am, followed by a 3:36pm high and then sunset at 7:47pm. The tidal coefficient is lower today, so you’ll see moderate water movement that should keep things comfortable but may call for a little finesse, especially on the flats according to Tide-Forecast.com and Tides4Fishing.

Wind’s coming in light out of the east, about 5-10 knots, and expect seas between 1.2 to 1.7 feet. There’s about a 35% chance you’ll dodge a rain shower—pack a slicker just in case, but expect mostly fair skies for prime time fishing. Temps on the water are in the mid-80s, and humidity is up, so stay hydrated out there.

Offshore, this year continues the trend as the **year of the dolphin fish** (mahi)! The bite picked up big time this past week with larger gaffer mahi pouring in. Captain Mike Genoun recommends working depths between 600 and 700 feet from Marathon down, saying the fish right now are “a little bit bigger, which typically happens this time of year. You find those nice gaffers mixed in.” Keep your eyes peeled for birds and weedlines in this band and don’t be afraid to hunt a little wider than usual—schoolies and bigger fish alike have been thick.

Pro tip: If you’re trolling, toss out a spread of C&H Rattle Jet lures and Boone feather jigs, both are proven producers for mahi and blackfin tuna right now—just keep those drags set medium in case a wahoo comes calling. And speaking of wahoo, OneFish reports the best chance at a smoker is to troll bright high-speed lures between 12–18 knots early or late when that sun’s not directly overhead.

If you want more variety, the reef and nearshore wrecks are cranking out **snapper, lane snapper, a few mangros, and some feisty red and gag grouper**. Hubbard’s Marina notes amberjack are still open and in fine fighting form, plus the occasional hogfish starting to show up. For snapper on the reef, live ballyhoo, pilchards, and shrimp are getting bit.

On the flats, it’s been a numbers game with **bonefish** absolutely chewing, especially on the early and evening tides. Keys Weekly says start at dawn or slip out for that sunset bite. Permit are cruising and hungry—look for waking fish and tails in the shallows, from backcountry basins to oceanside flats. Juvenile tarpon are also more than willing on fly and live pilchard or crab.

Hot baits: For flats, you can’t go wrong with small live shrimp, Gulp! shrimp, or a classic MirrOlure if sight-casting. For permit and tarpon, nothing beats a live crab or a well-presented fly.

Suggested hotspots:
- Marathon hump for mahi, tuna, and the chance at a slammer.
- Channel 5 and 7 bridges for snapper, tarpon, and a late summer shot at grouper.
- Sugarloaf Key and the backcountry muds for bonefish and permit—less traffic and stellar sight-fishing right now.

Recent catches are great across the board: multiple boats reporting easy limits of dolphin offshore, lanes and flags on the reef, and catch-and-release silver kings in the backwater. Several 30+ pound wahoo reported south of Alligator Reef—don’t sleep on the early-morning bite!

That’s your Florida Keys angling update from Artificial Lure—thanks for tuning in and don’t forget to subscribe for the latest local reports, tips, and where to cast next. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

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Good morning, fellow anglers—Artificial Lure here, bringing you the latest on fishing conditions across the Florida Keys for August 29, 2025.

The sunrise at 7:07 am ushered in a muggy, warm morning with light southeast winds shifting slightly by midday. The day’s highs will flirt with the upper 80s—classic Keys summer weather—while that steady breeze keeps things manageable out on the flats and backcountry. The sunset tonight will be at 7:48 pm, leaving just enough time for a productive evening session, and you’re looking at about 12 hours and 41 minutes of daylight. Tidal action is mild but still workable for sharp anglers: high tides hit around 1:49 am and 2:38 pm, and the lows drop to their mark at 8:37 am and 7:33 pm. The tidal coefficient starts at 49, dipping mid-day, translating to softer currents and less dramatic movement. That means finesse in lure presentation and a sharp eye for subtle structure changes will pay off today, according to the Key West tide charts.

Out on the reef and bluewater, dolphin (mahi-mahi) reports have been up, especially for those running the weed lines and looking for bird action. Tuna are still biting for early risers trolling near the humps past Marathon, and there’s been word of a few white marlin being caught further offshore. According to local Instagram reports, recent trips have yielded three tuna and three dolphin just a few days back—so there's still quality fish moving through if you follow the current edges.

Back inshore, the bridges are producing. The Seven Mile and Long Key Bridge remain hot spots—especially for permit and mangrove snapper. Yesterday, multiple anglers on social media pulled chunky permit on live crabs using light tackle, particularly during the last hour of the incoming tide. Mangrove snapper have been steady under the bridges and structure, with cut baits and small pilchards getting the nod. Squid strips and live shrimp are both working, especially when the water starts moving just before high or low slack.

Lobster season is back in swing since August 6, but be sure to stick to the limits and legal methods: no harpoons, no spears, and no over-the-limit hauls. Florida Fish and Wildlife officers recently made headlines after arresting a man with 53 lobsters before the legal season—reminder that enforcement is extra vigilant this time of year.

For lure recommendations, early morning and late afternoon have seen success on topwater plugs—think Heddon Zara Spooks or Rapala Skitter Walks—especially for barracuda and jacks prowling the flats. For snappers and grouper, opt for soft-plastic jigs rigged with Gulp! or live pilchard. Out on the reef, heavy bucktail jigs and trolling lures like the Nomad DTX Minnow are still pulling in summer wahoo and the occasional king mackerel.

A couple of hot spots to hit today:
- Seven Mile Bridge pylons: Permit and snapper active on both tides, especially when the water gets moving mid-morning and late afternoon.
- Channel 5 and Indian Key Fill: Reliable for snook, tarpon, and a shot at a big mangrove—fish early or just before dusk with live bait or a well-worked paddle-tail.

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Artificial Lure here with your Florida Keys fishing report for Thursday, August 28, 2025.

We kicked off the day with sunrise at 7:04 a.m. and we’ll see sunset tonight at 7:56 p.m., giving us nearly 13 hours of daylight to wet a line. Tides today were lively, with the first low hitting just before 2 a.m., a hearty high at 9:05 a.m., another low around 3:53 p.m., and the last high washing in at 10:25 p.m. The tidal coefficient peaked at 80 and finished around 87, which means significant current movement—right on cue for getting fish on the chew, especially along the deeper cuts and points, so plan your drifts accordingly. Guides say water temps are holding steady in the mid-80s, setting up prime conditions for a mixed bag as summer wraps up, but always check the latest wind and surf forecast before running out.

Weather today has been classic late-summer Keys: partly cloudy, humid, and hot, with the breeze staying mostly out of the east-southeast. That’s keeping backcountry waters moving and reef edges alive with action.

Now, let’s get to the meat and bones: fish activity. The backcountry has been lit up with mangrove snapper, yellowtail, and some big muttons mixed in around the channels and patch reefs—live pilchards remain the hot bait, though small pilchard-tipped jigs and Gulp! Shrimp are putting fish in the cooler as well. Over by the bridges, it’s still prime permit season; Tsunami Tackle posted today about one of their best bridge catches ever, with permit falling to live crabs drifted on outgoing tide. Tarpon are still stacking up under the fenders for anglers fishing dusk to dawn, taking big mullet or artificial swimbaits during those shadowy tide changes.

Offshore, Mahi are working weedlines in 400-600 feet, with plenty of schoolies and a few heftier gaffers coming over the rail this week. Trolled skirted ballyhoo and flashy dolphin jigs have been the ticket—Captain Experiences confirms light-tackle trolling is keeping coolers full, especially on calm mornings. Keep a pitch rod ready for those cruising fish that show up behind debris. Blackfin tuna and skipjack schools are under birds and over humps deeper out, so vertical jigs and live pilchards work great when you’re in the marks.

Inshore, bonefish and permit are tailing on the morning flats—just after sunup’s been best, working shrimp-tipped jigs or small natural crabs. The outflow after morning high tide pushes the bite, especially near channel points where mixing currents are strongest.

A quick word of warning: FWC reports some recent run-ins with poachers—like the fellow caught yesterday with 53 lobsters, a black crab, and a snapper, all out of season or illegal by method. Remember, regular lobster season’s underway since August 6, but stick to legal gear and limits—hand or net only, no spears or harpoons.

For best results right now, pack a box with live shrimp, pilchards, and crabs. Top artificial picks: Gulp! Shrimp in New Penny for the snapper and muttons, and Yo-Zuri crystal minnows or Rapala X-Raps for casting to pelagics. Early morning topwater action can fire up for snook and jack near the mangroves on a calm day, with Bone Skitter Walks drawing big surface strikes.

A couple hot spots to focus your efforts:
- The Seven Mile Bridge for big mangroves and tarpon, especially on sustained outgoing tides at dusk.
- Islamorada’s Snake Creek and Whale Harbor flats at sunrise for tailing permit and bonefish.

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Good morning, anglers—this is Artificial Lure coming to you from the heart of the Florida Keys, bringing you the latest on what’s biting and where, as of Wednesday, August 27, 2025.

The day broke with a classic Keys sunrise right around 7:01 am, and we’re looking at a sun-filled stretch until roughly 7:48 pm tonight. With nearly 13 hours of daylight and a strong tidal coefficient peaking at 88, we had higher-than-average tidal swings today, which spells active currents and usually means the fish are on the move and feeding harder than usual. High tide rolled in late this morning around 11:08 am, perfect timing for those chasing the slack tide bite. Expect the next low to hit just after supper, at 5:16 pm, and for those who like a late shift, there’s another high at 11:27 pm tonight, so the night bite could surprise you according to Tides4Fishing.

While we don’t have an exact water temperature read, this time of August usually means balmy waters, and that keeps most of the reef dwellers feisty. When these currents get moving with high coefficients, predators like tarpon, snapper, and even jacks tend to prowl the drop-offs and bridge pilings.

On the pelagic side, offshore reports have been electric. A crew off Sebastian Inlet landed what looked to be a world-record white marlin just last week, and the action offshore hasn’t slowed—a mix of mahi, blackfin tuna, and sailfish have been reported on the troll, especially when running ballyhoo or squid strips behind skirts. If you’re heading offshore, pink or blue chugger heads with ballyhoo have been the magic combo, as Wired2Fish highlighted in their marlin adventure.

Back inshore, the backcountry and patch reefs are loaded up with mangrove snapper, scattered mutton, yellowtail, and some hefty grouper hanging around the deeper wrecks. The bridges—especially Channel Five and Seven Mile—are holding solid numbers of mangroves, plus some hefty jacks and the odd permit when the tide’s right. For these targets, a live pilchard or fresh-cut ballyhoo on a jig head gets the bite, but if live bait’s hard to come by, Gulp! shrimp in new penny or chartreuse tossed on light tackle can be killer. For permit and tarpon, crabs and live mullet are a go-to, and if you’re wading or drifting the grassy flats, bonefish have been more active on the falling tide; small live shrimp or soft plastic jerkbaits do the trick.

Reports from fellow guides and the local marinas have seen plenty of mixed bags—schoolie mahi on weed lines, keeper size snapper under the bridges, and even a few bull reds up towards the backcountry passes. Dolphins (the fish, not the mammal!) and blackfin are popping up between the humps as the water heats up; most of the successful boats are trolling at 6–8 knots.

As for hot spots: the Channel Two bridge has been producing steady snapper sessions all week, and the humps about 25 miles off Marathon are still stacked with blackfin tuna and the occasional wahoo—don’t overlook early morning surface action here. For those craving the magic hour bite, the flats near Sugarloaf Key have surprised more than a few with late season tarpon rolling and feeding as the light fades.

Stay mindful of wind and current, as these strong tidal swings can get tricky in a flats skiff or at anchor on a patch reef. As always, keep an eye out for passing storms, hydrate, and handle those trophy fish with care!

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Florida Keys checking in, it’s Artificial Lure with your Sunday morning fishing report—August 24th, 2025. If you’re rigging up today, you’re in for a classic late summer bite. Let’s break down all the factors so you land a cooler full and a story worth telling.

Sunrise greeted us at 7:05am and you’ll have lines in until sunset just before 7:53pm. Tidal action around Key West is moderate, with low tide first thing at 4:38am, a healthy high peaking mid-morning at 11:23am, dropping again around 5:24pm, and another high close to midnight. These swings mean moving water, which gets those fish churning, especially right around peak tides. Plan to fish the turns for the best action.

Weather’s your friend this weekend—steady temps, light SE breeze, and calm to moderate seas. Classic Keys summer patttern: warm humid mornings easing into scattered clouds mid-afternoon. Water temps are hovering close to eighty-five, and that’s keeping both the tropicals and the predators feeding with urgency.

In the backcountry and patch reefs, permit and bonefish are cruising the flats at sun-up—target them with live shrimp or small white soft plastics. If you’re after yellowtail snapper, they’ve been thick just offshore of Alligator Reef and around Conch Reef; fresh cut ballyhoo or silversides with chum in the slick is a guaranteed ticket. According to Key Largo reports, anglers are heading home with limits of snapper, solid mangroves, and the occasional mutton mixed in. Grouper, especially reds and blacks, have been more active on the deeper ledges—they’re smashing live pinfish and jumbo squid.

Off the bridges—Seven Mile and Long Key are both holding plenty of mangrove snapper at dawn and dusk, and tarpon are still showing on outgoing tides. You’ll want to free-line crab or mullet chunks if you’re swinging for a silver king. Nighttime bridge fishing is producing steady bites of snook and schoolmasters, especially on live pilchards and flair-hawk jigs.

Barracuda and jacks are lighting up the patches and channels if you’re throwing bright topwater or flashy spoons. Offshore, mahi fishing is spotty but productive for the patient—weed lines east of Islamorada and Marathon are holding schoolies, with some slingers hitting the decks. Troll small feathers or pitch live pilchards; a chartreuse or pink skirt is pulling strikes.

Lure action? Locals are stacking up on the new Megabass Vision 110 in natural bait colors for snook, and XRap long-casts for open water jacks and blackfin tuna. Classic bucktail jigs tipped with shrimp are also putting in work on everything from snapper to grouper.

Today’s hotspots:
- Alligator Reef: Snapper bite steady, early and late.
- Seven Mile Bridge: Peel off to the shade lines near sunset for hungry mangroves and surprise tarpon.
- Fiesta Key Flats: Early morning bonefish schools close to the drop-off, best with light tackle and shrimp.
- Conch Reef: Deep ledges for mutton and black grouper, hit the moving tide.

For the bait dip, nothing beats live pilchard, pinfish, or fresh ballyhoo, but if you’re on the flats, don’t sleep on a Gulp! shrimp or a bonefish jig in white or pink.

That’s your Sunday rundown for fishing the Florida Keys. Thanks for tuning in—if you want the inside scoop straight from the locals, be sure to subscribe and keep those drags screaming. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

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It’s Artificial Lure coming at you with your Saturday, August 23rd fishing report live from the Florida Keys. We’ve got clear warm air coming off the Gulf, sunrise at 7:03 AM and sunset draping the islands in gold at 8:05 PM, giving anglers a full 13-hour window on the water. Key West tides are mellow today with a high right around 9:59 this morning, followed by a low near 4:19 this afternoon. Small tidal swings mean water movement is gentle, but that mid-morning push is prime for reef and inshore action, so make the most of it.

August is classic Keys fishing—bait schools everywhere, the water loaded with predators. Offshore, yellowtail snapper, blackfin tuna, and some chunky mahi-mahi are still turning up around Marathon and out beyond the Humps. According to recent local catches on Instagram, reef edge yellowtail have been solid, with plenty of limits coming over the rail. Mixed in, folks have pulled in a few decent mutton snapper and the odd grouper just off Conch Reef.

Inshore, flats fishermen are reporting healthy numbers of bonefish and permit up on the hardpack during the lower stages of the tide, with the early morning and late afternoon bringing the most tailers. Shark activity has ramped up with the warm water, so keep an eye on your catch if you’re releasing. The bridges, especially around Channel Five and Seven Mile, are holding big mangrove snapper at night, tarpon rolling at dusk, and some surprise cobia cruising the deeper edges.

For the best shot at reef species, go light—shrimp-tipped jigs or small pieces of fresh ballyhoo on a chicken rig have been money, but don’t forget live pinfish if you want a shot at that stud grouper. Offshore, locals favor pilchards when they can get ’em, but vertical jigs and bucktail lures in bright colors have been clobbering blackfin out at the Humps. If you want mahi, troll small feathered skirts in pink and blue, working weed lines and scattered birds.

Spillways and backcountry cuts have continued to produce some bruiser snook—watch YouTube’s Florida spillway reports for proof. Both live mullet and topwater plugs like the Spook or Rapala Skitter Walk are doing serious work before the sun gets too high.

Bait action is thick, especially ballyhoo and pilchards, with schools drawing everything from wrasse to predator gamefish. Reports from Key West and up through Conch Key highlight bluehead wrasse and ballyhoo actively schooling—if you’re sabiki-ing for bait, you’ll fill a well fast.

Top hotspots today: The Marathon Humps for those seeking pelagics; finally, Conch Reef and Islamorada’s Patch Reefs where the yellowtail, mangrove snapper, and mutton are bunched. For flats hunters, focus on the ocean side of Islamorada at first light, and for big bridge fish, Seven Mile’s deeper cuts continue to impress after sunset.

Don’t miss your window—tidal swings are subtle but timing that moving water will put you on the bite. Thanks for tuning in and don’t forget to subscribe for all your local fishing updates. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

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Good morning fishheads, you’re tuned in to your Friday Florida Keys update—this is Artificial Lure bringing you the latest bite story from paradise.

We’re kicking off the day with ideal weather above the turquoise flats: expect another classic steamy August day, clear early but with a light east wind ramping up by mid-morning. Expect highs in the upper 80s, humidity you’ll feel in your bones, and the ever-present shot at an afternoon thunderstorm—standard Keys fare this time of year. Today's sunrise was right around 7:03 a.m. with sunset clocking in at 8:05 p.m., giving us prime fishing light over long summer hours.

The tides are running moderate today according to Tide-Forecast.com, with high in Key West at 9:10 a.m. and low at 3:44 p.m. That gives you a good moving tide for most of the morning—great news for targeting feeding fish on both inshore and offshore grounds. The tidal coefficient today is on the lower side, sitting around 48 early and bumping to 52 at noon, so expect gentle current and more subtle baitfish movement, which can make for a stealthy game on the flats.

Let’s talk action: This August has been straight up legendary for snapper, especially muttons and mangroves. Instagram updates show multiple monster mangroves in the 6-7lb range being wrestled from both bridges and patch reefs, while offshore the mutton bite has been hot between 80-110 feet along the Edge. That’s not all—Red Snapper season kicked off with a bang as Captain Brian Lambert out of Marathon landed a tagged red that had been cruising the reefs for nearly a decade, testament to the ongoing success of the FWC’s tagging effort. Reports from Fish On Twins call out steady numbers of mahi mahi and grouper offshore, with the odd school of amberjack putting a bend in heavy rods for deep-droppers.

Inshore, bonefish are cruising early and late on the oceanside flats from Islamorada to Sugarloaf, with the falling tide proving best. Permit continue to tail around the backcountry wrecks, and I’ve heard solid chatter from local guides about consistent shots at tarpon in the channels at dusk and dawn.

If you’re looking to match the hatch, local shops like Mud Hole have been pushing topwater lures first thing for trout and snook, with those old-school hard baits from Strike King and Yo-Zuri getting swiped right off the surface. For deeper water, nothing’s beating a classic jig tipped with fresh ballyhoo strips or a whole pilchard. Offshore, heavy spinners loaded with live cigar minnows are the ticket for snapper, while mahi can’t resist smaller trolling feathers or topwater plugs skipped fast over the bluewater weeds.

Hotspots this week? Try the Seven Mile Bridge rubble for snapper and the Humps east of Marathon if you’re hunting dolphin and tuna. For the waders and kayakers, the flats off Long Key have been lights-out at sunrise for bones and permit. Anglers working the pilings under Bahia Honda have still been tangling with bruiser tarpon at night—bring stout tackle and don’t skimp on leader.

The key tip for today? Work the moving tide windows, adjust your baits for subtlety in the lighter currents, and make sure you’ve got quality leader in the bag—those snapper and permit are wise this late in summer.

That’s your boots-on-the-ground report for today in the Florida Keys. Thanks for tuning in—make sure to hit subscribe, and keep those lines tight until next time.

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Good morning from the Florida Keys—Artificial Lure here with your updated fishing report for Wednesday, August 20, 2025.

Sunrise brought color to the flats at 7:03 AM with sunset expected at 7:56 PM, giving us nearly 13 hours of sunlight to chase fish across gin-clear waters. The weather’s doing us a favor today: winds are light, skies mostly clear, and that classic late-summer humidity’s holding steady, which means plenty of fish activity according to the local guides on Keys Flats Fishing Charters.

Tide action is strong, with a high tidal coefficient today at 88 and rising, so you’ll see good water movement. The morning high in Key West hits at 8:13 AM and drops to near dead low by 3:03 PM—a prime window for feeding activity around the edges and channels, especially with the increasing current through the backcountry, reefs, and bridge pilings, as shared on Tide-Forecast.com.

Out on the flats, anglers are still raving about tailing bonefish and some solid shots at permit during the higher stages of the tide. Key West Flats Fishing Charters reports tarpon are cruising channels at first light, often feeding aggressively around the incoming tide. The shallow waters between the islands are loaded with juvenile tarpon and barracuda, which are both entertaining and ready to smash twitch baits or fly presentations.

For reef action, expect strong bites from snapper and grouper around midday when that water drops out. Yellowtail snapper have been thick along the outer patches—live pilchards and fresh cut ballyhoo are consistently putting fish in the box. Those targeting mutton snapper have also had success bumping the bottom with jigs just offshore, per recent local charter logs.

As for lures and bait, tackle shops like Discount Tackle and the locals are moving a lot of Z-Man soft plastics, Rapala X-Raps, and bucktail jigs for inshore and bridge fishing. Topwater poppers and shrimp-imitating soft baits are excellent at dawn or dusk for snook and sea trout around mangrove edges. For hardcore flats folks, nothing beats live shrimp or small blue crabs when sight-casting at permit and bones, while silver or chartreuse artificial lures still fool plenty during moving water. Offshore, trolling Nomad Design, Nomad Madmacs, or traditional feathered jigs around humps is getting dolphin (mahi) and blackfin tuna.

Notable hotspots this week include:
- Western Sambo Reef: strong snapper, grouper, and even occasional cobia showing up, especially on the falling tide.
- Sugarloaf Key backcountry: reliable shots at tarpon and bigger jacks at first light.
- Vaca Cut and Long Key bridges: tide-swept pilings are loaded with mangrove snapper and the odd snook at sunrise.

The lighter crowds this time of year offer prime water—more fish, less boat pressure, and plenty of room to drift or stalk quietly. Local guides remind everyone to keep it simple: stick to the tides, fish the moving water, and don’t overthink your lure selection.

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This is Artificial Lure, coming to you with your Florida Keys fishing report for Sunday, August 17th, 2025. Right now, anglers are looking forward to another classic late-summer day on the water. The sunrise hit at 7:02 AM and we’ll have light till sunset at 7:59 PM, giving you plenty of time to work the flats, reefs, and channels. The moon rose just after 1:00 AM and will set at 3:34 PM, so expect some positive influence on fish activity into the early afternoon.

Tides are shifting nicely for both the backcountry and the reef. In Key West, expect a high tide early at 4:26 AM, bottoming out to a low at 11:53 AM, then swinging up to another high at 7:18 PM before the final low at 10:26 PM. Tidal coefficients in the lower Keys today are moderate, which means we’ll see ample current without it getting out of hand. That often generates a strong bite window right at those tide changes—so set your alarms or plan to be on your spot just as water starts moving.

Weather-wise, it’s going to be a typical August day: warm, humid, and calm waters. According to the National Weather Service, light easterly winds are expected all weekend and into the workweek. Look for seas around one to two feet, nearshore waters staying smooth—ideal conditions for small boats, kayaks, and wade fishing. Scattered showers and a few isolated storms are possible, so keep an eye on the horizon for those pop-up clouds, especially in the afternoon.

Let’s talk fish. The mixed-bag bite is ON. Offshore, recent trips have delivered solid action on tuna and mahi-mahi—multiple boats are reporting schools of schoolie dolphin in the 8-15lb range just outside the edge around Marathon and Key West, with a few bigger bulls in the mix. Tuna action has been best at first light trolling small feathers or casting live pilchards near the humps.

Reef action has been equally productive. Guides and locals are cashing in on strong catches of yellowtail snapper and mangrove snapper, most ranging 14-18 inches. Fresh cut bait or live shrimp freelined back in the chum slick is the ticket for these tasty fighters.

With gray triggerfish season recently opened across Gulf and Atlantic waters, a lot of anglers are targeting reefs in the 50-80’ range. These triggers are aggressive right now; small bucktail jigs and cut squid on chicken rigs are producing steady numbers. Don’t forget: if you’re going for triggerfish or other reef fish, make sure you’re signed up for Florida’s State Reef Fish Angler Designation as required by FWC.

On the inshore side, tarpon are still being jumped around bridges at first and last light, especially with this tidal swing. Look for rolling fish on outgoing tides and try a live crab or an extra-large artificial swimbait. Snook and redfish have been feeding early along the mangrove edges and creek mouths—shrimp-tipped jigs and paddle tails have worked best.

Hot spots today:
- The Marathon Humps for tuna and mahi—work the live bait or troll around the color change.
- The reefs off Islamorada and Key Largo for snapper and triggers—find a good chum slick and let your baits drift in naturally.
- Channel 2 and Channel 5 bridges close to sunup for tarpon—free line a crab or swim a big plug for your shot at a summer silver king.

Top lures and baits:
- For offshore: small tuna feathers, rigged ballyhoo, and trolling bonito strips.
- On the reef: bucktail jigs tipped with squid, live shrimp, and pilchards.
- Inshore: paddle-tail soft plastics, topwater plugs at dawn, and live pinfish or shrimp.

All told, the Florida Keys are firing on all cylinders this weekend—weather’s right, tides are moving, and the bite is strong. Thanks for tuning in to today’s report. Be sure to hit that subscribe button so you never miss the latest bite. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

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Artificial Lure here with your Saturday, August 16th fishing report from the heart of the Florida Keys. Sunrise splashed in at 7:02 AM and expect sunset right around 8:00 PM. We’ve got a lively new moon system moving in, with high tide rolling through Key West at 3:23 AM, a soft low at 10:30 AM, then a modest high again at 5:27 PM and closing with a 9:18 PM low. Tides are running strong, water’s clearing up, and with little recent rain, the bite should be reliable all day.

Weather’s holding steady – warm, breezy, that classic salty air. Expect morning temps in the mid-80s pushing up through the low 90s by midday. With clear skies in play and light chop offshore, it’s a great day to work every corner: flats, bridges, and deep blue water.

Offshore action is all about red snapper and red grouper right now. Hubbard’s Marina confirms we’re deep in red snapper season, and they’ve been hitting good numbers as anglers dial in on the last month of open harvest. Red grouper remains steady and should be available through the end of the year – strong catches reported on cut bait over deeper ledges. Scamp, hefty mangrove snapper, vermilion snapper, and yellowtail are mixing it up, with mutton snapper showing up hot on the drop. Slow-pitch jigs and dead bait are taking blackfin tuna, kingfish are biting the troll, and have a pitch rod ready – mahi are cruising in from 70 to 100 feet, especially on those color changes and weed lines. Flatlining is seeing a few sails slide through, so don’t sleep on a live pilchard.

Nearshore lanes are strong, mangroves piling up good, and keep an eye for passing mahi as the edge lines stack up bait. Salt Strong reports the Wake Mullet lure is drawing strikes from sniffing snapper all the way up to curious jacks – perfect for tossing on grass flats and chumming potholes.

Inshore, snook are crowding the docks and bridges with incoming tide during this new moon prime for ambush. Redfish are feeding over oyster bars on the upper bay and back bay, especially early when tide is building. Shrimp and pinfish work great, but soft plastics in root beer or chartreuse are deadly this time of year.

Recent days saw anglers on INXS and other charters pulling their first deep sea catches, with big smiles and coolers loaded, as reported by local crews. Snapper tacos are on the menu thanks to a hot mangrove bite. Around Islamorada, the Gulf is lit up with Spanish mackerel, kingfish, cobia, big jacks, and sharks. Everglades waters are hot for speckled trout, snook, redfish, and more.

Florida catches and limits are strictly enforced, especially on groupers and snappers, so check your regs and measure your fish before heading in, as emphasized by Key Largo Fisheries.

For hot spots, Marathon’s Seven Mile Bridge is flush with snapper on the incoming tide and snook tight to the pilings. The reefs off Islamorada at Alligator Reef are loaded with yellowtail and mutton snapper. Drift a live pilchard or slow-pitch a jig on the up-current edge for hot results. Patch reefs near Tennessee Light and deeper wrecks out of Key West are also phenomenal for red grouper and snapper this week.

Best lures? Hard to beat a bucktail jig sweetened with shrimp or Gulp! Soft plastics. Live bait, especially pinfish, pilchards, and ballyhoo, crush offshore, while shrimp and crab are king inshore.

That’s today’s Keys report – everything from the snapper stackers to mahi on the move. Thanks for tuning in to Artificial Lure. Be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss vital local updates. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

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